Mountains Reach Peak Of Beauty In Canadian Rockies

September 07, 1986|By Zeke Wigglesworth, Knight-Ridder Newspapers.

From the highway, near the boundary between the two national parks, you can see Athabasca and Dome glaciers from the road. And if you`re up to a moderate hike, you can park near Athabasca and then walk up onto the glacier itself, which is receding at the rate of about 30 feet a year. (The Columbia glacier, which feeds the Columbia River, is advancing, but you can`t get to it by road.)

For about $11 per person ($5.50 for children), you can ride huge, six-wheel-drive snow coaches onto the Athabasca Glacier itself.

The snow coach tour season runs from May 23 to Sept. 25. The tours are run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the peak summer season.

To the north is Athabasca Falls, where a mighty gorge has been carved and a great falls produced. Well worth the trip. About 20 miles north of Lake Louise is the Crowfoot Glacier--one of the hundred or so glaciers you can see from the road--which lost one of its ``toes`` as the glacier receded.

Everywhere, throughout both parks, the water is that peculiar shade of light turquoise only seen in glacial-melt rivers and lakes (Lake Louise is a striking example). Near Lake Louise, at the Great Divide Picnic Area, you can see visual evidence of the Continental Divide: A creek there separates in midflow, half going west, half going east.

If you have time, give yourself a couple of days to drive the Icefield Parkway. The scenery is more than can be absorbed in one sitting.

INFORMATION

The Canadian government issues excellent guides to all its provinces, detailing accommodations, activities and highway information. They are available by writing to the Canadian Consulate/Tourism, 310 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Ill. 60604; telephone 312-427-1666.

Among materials available are the Alberta Touring Guide and the Alberta Accommodations Guide (campgrounds, motels, hotels and resorts.) Maps also are available. This same information is available at tourism centers on major highways as you enter the province.